Bald Move Pulp - Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Jim and A.Ron have seen Captain America: Civil War, and they really, really liked what they saw. It was fun, weighty, maybe a bit long with the usual seeming plot holes (which comic fans can probably fill), but nothing that comes close to threatening to stop the runaway hype train that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We give you a fairly detailed non-spoiler review, before considering the many highly entertaining trailers that ran up front, and then finally, getting around to our no holds barred spoiler section. You’ll have to be a Club member to get the spoiler take, and read on to find out how you can sign up!

Bald Move Prestige - Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

Dr. Brandon Devito has commissioned us to watch the 1997 comedy/thriller mashup, “Grosse Pointe Blank”, starring John Cusack and Minnie Driver. It tells the tale of a hitman with a troubled conscience, or maybe just a feeling of ennui that has him returning to his home town for his tenth high school reunion and coincidentally reuniting with his old sweetheart. The action is surprisingly great, the sound track is fantastic, the fashion is decidedly 90’s, and the tone is quirky and all over the place, but it only hit one of us in just the right place.

Bald Move Prestige - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Special thanks to Dr. Ken for the gutsy call to have us do a commissioned podcast for a black and white 60’s Western film, “The Man Show Shot Liberty Valance”. Directed by the great John Ford, and starring John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart, this movie is both insanely fun to watch and, believe it or not, serves as a great primer on American politics. It might just be the tonic you need during an especially intense political season. And I can’t stress this enough, this film is crazy entertaining. If you care at all about Westerns or classic Hollywood film-making, and haven’t already, make the time to watch this film.

Bald Move Pulp - Back to the Future (1985)

Special thanks goes to Alafia McMurty for commissioning a podcast on the 1985 sci-fi comedy classic, “Back to the Future”. Starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, we’ve seen this movie a million times and love every second. Please enjoy the following mammoth podcast that covers nearly every aspect of the film, from the absurd to the poignant to the sublime.

Bald Move Prestige - Zulu (1964)

Special thanks to Glenn Seubert for commissioning this podcast on the 1964 British film “Zulu”. Directed by Cy Endfield and starring Stanley Baker and a very young Michael Caine, it depicts a fictionalized version of a real life stand off between 100 British soldiers and 4,000 Zulu warriors in the battle for South Africa. The film is gorgeous in it’s look and especially color palette, and the lead performances by Baker and Caine are interesting as two soldiers vying for power and making tough decisions under an extremely daunting challenge. We both cry out for more cultural and historical context for this film, and while Jim had problems with some aspects of the film being dated, I enjoyed it for the throw back to a classic age of cinema that it is.

Bald Move Pulp - Hardcore Henry (2016)

The Russian import “Hardcore Henry”, directed by Ilya Naishuller and starring Sharlto Copley and Haley Bennett, is either some brilliant, imaginative, humorous, over the top action flick, or it is an over-long, boring, tedious, graphic waste of time that may or may not make you physically ill. Or maybe it’s both? Jim and A.Ron debate the film’s merits accordingly.

Bald Move Prestige - The Man from Earth (2007)

Thanks go to Dan G, perhaps better known as the forum denizen DancesWithWookies, has selected the 2007 minimalist sci-fi/philosophic film “The Man from Earth” for his commissioned podcast. Directed by Richard Schenkman and written by the late Jerome Bixby, it asks us to entertain the idea of a 14,000 year old paleolithic man who has managed to adapt and survive to our modern day. His winding tale through history may intrigue or infuriate you, depending on your appetite for detail or willingness to engage with the ideas and concepts of the film, and move beyond the limitations of it’s budget and construction

Bald Move Pulp - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

We review Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. We didn’t like it. If you did, I’m really happy for you, but I’d recommend skipping the podcast because we’re going to sound like Lex Luthor explaining Greek history, which is to say utterly deranged and insane. Enjoy our spoiler-free review and very brief discussion of the trailers we saw before tonight’s main event, but if you want the whole spoiler-filled take down of DC’s risible attempt to launch a multi-movie franchise, you’ll need to join the Club.

Bald Move Prestige - Once Were Warriors (1994)

Jude from New Zealand shows some homeland pride by selecting the incendiary Kiwi film from 1994, “Once Were Warriors”, for her commissioned podcast pick. Directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Temuera Morrison and Rena Owen, it features a soul destroying portrait of life for a Maori family living in the slums of Auckland. The picture pulls no punches, and yet manages to be thought provoking, sympathetic, and even uplifting and hopeful, assuming you calibrate your definition of “uplifting” and “hopeful” to David “The Wire” Simon settings. We simply are blown away by the performances of everyone in this film, particularly Morrison who plays the extremely charismatic, extremely violent Jake “the Muss”, and are intrigued by the examination of domestic violence, crime, and racial issues as seen through the very distinct lens of New Zealand.

The Princess Bride (1987)

This was a long time coming. Jim has avoided seeing this movie for going on 30 years. Today, he has no where to run, no where to hide. He’s locked in a steel cage match with “The Princess Bride”, directed by Rob Reiner and based on the novel of the same name by William Goldman. Confronted by the beautiful faces of Cary Elwes and Robin Wright, the absurdist comedy of Miracle Max, how will he react to this crazy mashup of farce, swashbuckling, and heart?

Special thanks to Zan from Melbourne, Barry C from the UK, Allicyn Wilde, Robot-K, Brian S, John H, Stefan G, Mark S, Denise T, Lesley W, Jay R, Ryan L, S Duncan, Geoffry B, pmmonnat, and WeezerWes for banding together and storming the castle.